CBSE Class 7 English Reading Skills Short Passages

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CBSE Class 7 English Reading Skills Short Passages

CBSE Class 7 English Reading Skills Short Passages

Short Passages


Read the following passages carefully:

PASSAGE 1

(Poem)

Fame is a food that dead men eat,
I have no stomach for such meat.
In little light and narrow room,
They eat in the silent tomb.
With no kind voice of comrade near To bid the feaster be of cheer.
But friendship is a noble thing,
Of friendship it is good to sing. •
For truly when a man shall end,
He lives in memory of his friend,
Who doth his better part recall,
And of his fault make funeral.

—Henry Austin Dobson

Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. By the expression ‘Fame is a food that dead men eat’ we mean
    (a) fame is enjoyed only after death
    (b) fame is enjoyed during life-time
    (c) fame is something like a food
    (d) fame dies with one’s death.
  2.  Friendship is a noble thing because
    (a) a man cannot live without friends
    (b) real friends are very helpful
    (c) a man always remembers the good qualities of his friend after his death
    (d) it enhances dignity of mankind.
  3.  Friendship is better than fame because in friendship
    (a) when a man dies he lives in the memory of his friend
    (b) a man always regards his friend
    (c) enmity never comes
    (d) a man is always happy in the company of his friend.
  4. In the last line of the above poem the poet wants to convey that
    (a) one should believe in friendship
    (b) the faults of a man are highlighted by his friend after his death
    (c) the faults of a man are forgotten by his friend after his death
    (d) one should not run after fame and friendship.
  5. The word recall means
    (a) forget (b) come close (c) help (d) remember.

Answers

  1. a
  2. c
  3. a
  4. c
  5. d

PASSAGE 2

(Poem)

The World

Great, wide, beautiful, wonderful World,
With the wonderful water round you curled,
And the wonderful grass upon your breast—
World, you are beautifully drest.
The wonderful air is over me,
And the wonderful wind is shaking the tree,
It walks on the water, and whirls the mills,
And talks to itself on the tops of the hills.
You friendly Earth, how far do you go,
With the wheat-fields that nod and the rivers that flow,
With cities and gardens, and cliffs, and isles,
And people upon you for thousands of miles?
Ah! you are so great, and I am so small,
I tremble to think of you, World, at all;
And yet, when I said my prayers to-day,
A whisper inside me seemed to say,
You are more than the Earth, though you are such a dot:
You can love and think, and the Earth cannot!’

—W.B.Rands

Nowanswer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. In the poem above ‘beautifully drest’ refers to
    (a) having gaudy dress
    (b) decorated with nature’s beauty
    (c) wearing costly dresses
    (d) wearing cheap but beautiful dresses.
  2. The poet calls the world ‘beautifully drest’ because
    (a) it looks beautiful
    (b) it has wonderful grass curled around it
    (c) it is covered with fine clothes
    (d) it is covered with green leaves.
  3.  The wind in the poem talks to
    (a) passersby (b) trees (c) clouds
  4. The poet calls the earth
    (a) unfriendly (b) friendly (c) proud
  5. The phrase such a dot means
    (a) so small (b) so fat (c) so big

Answers

  1. b
  2. b
  3. d
  4. b
  5. c

PASSAGE 3

(Poem)

WHOSE woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods filled up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farm-house near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

—Robert Frost

Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. In the last stanza of the poem there is a repetition of the line; ‘And miles to go before I sleep.’ The poet has repeated the line to
    (a) make the poem interesting
    (b) emphasise his responsibilities
    (c) attract the readers
    (d) express the idea of the poem more forcefully.
  2. When the poet says ‘But I have promises to keep’; he means that
    (a) he has to make his life successful
    (b) he has certain duties which he must discharge
    (c) he has to follow what he has said to his friends
    (d) he has to make people happy.
  3.  The woods are covered with
    (a) snow (b) yellow leaves (c) sand (d) fallen trees.
  4.  Who gives the harness bells a shake?
    (a) Horse (b) Poet (c) Horse-rider (d) Elephant.
  5. The word queer means
    (a) sometimes (b) familiar (c) strange (d) abnormal.

Answers

  1. d
  2. b
  3. a
  4. a
  5. c

PASSAGE 4

Our ancestors had great difficulty in getting books. Now, our difficulty is what to read. There are books and books but our hours of reading are very few. Therefore, choice becomes essential. We should be very careful about what we read. There are books which poison our lives by suggesting evils. We should keep them at arm’s length.
We should read only those books which have stood the test of time. Such books are our great classics like the Ramayana and the Gita. They contain the wisdom of our sages and saints. They have appealed mankind from generation to generation. Reading of such books has ennobling influence on our mind and character. It gives us spiritual enjoyment. These books give us instruction with entertainment. They represent our ancient culture. They set before us high ideals to follow. They are our best friends, best guides and the best treasure.
Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1.  We should be selective because
    (a) there is a great number of books available to us
    (b) there is scarcity of books
    (c) there are only bad books in the market
    (d) none of the above.
  2. We should avoid those books which
    (a) cost high price
    (b) come in paperback
    (c) corrupt our lives by suggesting evils
    (d) come in more than one volume.
  3. The books which have stood the test of time are called….
    (a) great books (b) rare books (c) biographies (d) classics.
  4. What is /are special quality/qualities of classics?
    (a) They affect our mind in a good way
    (b) They teach us something great and also entertain us.
    (c) They help us in our spiritual growth
    (d) All the above.
  5. An expression in the passage which means ‘good effect’ is
    (a) Spiritual enjoyment (b) Ennobling influence
    (c) high ideals (d) Very careful.

Answers

  1. a
  2. c
  3. d
  4. d
  5. b

PASSAGE 5

(Poem)

Sympathy

I lay in sorrow deep distressed;
My grief a proud man heard,
His looks were cold, he gave me gold,
But not a kindly word.
My sorrow passed I paid him back The gold he gave to me,
Then stood erect and spoke my thanks And blessed his charity.
I lay in want and grief, and pain A poor man passed my way He bound my head, he gave me bread;
He watched me night and day;
How shall I pay him back again For all he did to me?
Oh, gold is great, but greater far Is heavenly sympathy.

—Charles Mackay

Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. One day the poet was in
    (a) trouble (b) need of money (c) need of a friend (d) depression.
  2. The proud rich man offered the poet
    (a) sympathy (b) money (c) bread (d) tea.
  3.  The poet was in a fix because
    (a) he didn’t know how to pay back to the rich proud man
    (b) he didn’t know the poor man who served him so much
    (c) he wanted to give money to the poor man but he had no money
    (d) he didn’t know how to pay back to the poor main’s service to him.
  4. The poet realised in the last that
    (a) the poor man was better tham the rich man
    (b) sympathy was more valuable than gold
    (c) the rich main was better than the poor man
    (d) money was the most important thing in the world.
  5. The word that meains opposite to sorrow is
    (a) carelessness (b) ability (c) joy (d) beauty.

Answers

  1. a
  2. b
  3. d
  4. b
  5. c

PASSAGE 6 

Gairbage is a great environment hazard. It comes from various sources—used paper, tiffin packings, plastic bags, ice-cream wrappers, bottle caps, fallen leaves from trees and many more. Garbage makes the premises ugly, unkempt and breeds diseases.
A lot of trash that is thrown away contain material that can be recycled and reused such as paper, metals and glass which can be sent to the nearest recyclic centre or disposed of to the junkdealer. It also contains organic matter such as leaves which can enrich soil fertility. A compost pit can be made at a convenient location where the refuse can be placed with layers of soil and an occasional sprinkling of water. This would help decomposition to make valuable fertilizer. This would also prevent pollution that is usually caused by burning such organic waste.
Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. Garbage originates from
    (a) used paper, tiffin, packings, plastic bags and fallen leaves from trees
    (b) leftovers of food
    (c) fallen branches from trees
    (d) building materials.
  2. Garbage can create havoc to the mankind by
    (a) spreading foul smell [b] slowing our vehicles on the road
    (c) spreading several diseases (d) all the above.
  3.  What happens to the disposed material at the recycling centre?
    (a) It is thrown away (b) It is recycled for reuse
    (c) It is sold to the rag pickers (d) It is dumped into the ground.
  4.  Fallen leaves from trees are useful because they
    (a) solve the problem of fuel wood in village households
    (b) enrich water quality
    (c) enrich soil fertility
    (d) beautify landscape.
  5. Which of these is correct with reference to a composite pit?
    (a) The refuge is placed with layers of soil with an occasional sprinkling of water
    (b) It contributes to the manufacture of useful fertilizer
    (c) It prevents pollution
    (d) All the above.

Answers

  1. a
  2. c
  3. b
  4. c
  5. d

PASSAGE 7

Patriotism is an old concept, as old perhaps as the earliest of humans civilisations. But all through the history of mankind, it has been narrowly understood. Today people have begun to realise that patriotism is an essential part of human instinct.
Patriotism has its negative sides particularly when it exceeds its proper bounds. People who think their own country to be the best and are blind to its weaknesses are not patriots at all.
We are the members of a large human family and so cannot neglect our duties and responsibilities towards it. Our love for the country should be conditioned by respect for the whole community. Narrow prejudice can do nothing except to bring misfortune. In trying to overlook others’ interest in the modern world, we harm our own.
Patriotism should be tempered with reason so that it may not be an evil.

Source: Wisdom

Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1.  Today what is the belief of people regarding patriotism?
    (a) It is narrowly understood (b) It is not needed
    (c) It is a part of human instinct (d) None of the above.
  2. Which type of the people can be categorised as patriots?
    (a) Those who think others’ country greater than their own
    (b) Those who think their own country to be the best inspite of its weaknesses
    (c) Those who keep a neutral attitude towards their country
    (d) Those whose love for the country is conditioned by respect for the entire community.
  3. Narrow prejudices always bring
    (a) misfortune (b) good opportunity
    (c) good luck (d) huge amount of money.
  4. Patriotism is an evil when it is
    (a) tempered with reason (b) not tempered with reason
    (c) beyond narrow feelings (d) None of the above.
  5. The word in the passage means opposite to positive
    (a) Proper (b) Narrow (c) Negative (d) Reason.

Answers

  1. c
  2. d
  3. a
  4. b
  5. c

PASSAGE 8

What causes the monsoon? The monsoon, which is essentially the seasonal reversal in wind direction, causes most of the rainfall received in India and some other parts of the world. The primary cause of monsoons is the difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea. The apparent position of the Sun with reference to the Earth oscillates from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. Thus the low pressure region created by solar heating also changes latitude. The northeast and southeast trade winds converge in this low pressure zone, which is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ. This low pressure region sees continuous rise of moist wind from the sea surface to the upper layers of the atmosphere, where the cooling means the air can no longer hold so much moisture resulting in precipitation. The rainy seasons of East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and the southern part of North America coincide with the shift of ITCZ towards these regions.

Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. Monsoon is
    (a) A type of sea wave
    (b) a seasonal reversal in wind direction
    (c) very hot wind
    (d) very cold wind.
  2.  What is the full form of ITCZ?
    (a) Intertrance Convergence Zone
    (b) Intertropical Convergence Zone
    (c) Intertropical Capricorn Zone
    (d) Intertropical Conveyance Zone.
  3. The major cause of monsoon is the
    (a) difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea
    (b) difference between day and night temperature
    (c) moisture in the atmosphere
    (d) None of these.
  4. Low pressure region is created by
    (a) solar heating
    (b) lunar cooling
    (c) moist wind
    (d) dry wind.
  5. It rains when
    (a) moist wind goes down
    (b) dry wind meets moist wind
    (c) the air can no longer hold moisture resulting in precipitation
    (d) annual temperature goes down.Answers

 

  1. b
  2. b
  3. a
  4. a
  5. c

PASSAGE 9

Dry fruits are useful in various diseases of the brain, muscles and tissues. Particularly almond has got unique properties to remove brain weakness and strengthen it.
Almond preserves the vitality of the brain, strengthens the muscles, destroys diseases originating from nervous and bilious disorders.
Walnut is another dry fruit that possesses wonderful qualities of curing brain weakness. According to Dr. Johnson, almonds, figs, grapes, dates, apples* and oranges are rich-in phosphoric element and should normally be used by brain workers. Phosphorus nourishes the vital tissues of the body. It keeps the mind full of enthusiasm for more work.

Source: Wisdom

Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:

  1. Dry fruits are useful because they
    (a) strengthen our heart ,
    (b) cure various diseases of the brain, muscles and tissues
    (c) give confidence to us
    (d) empower us to do challenging tasks.
  2.  Which one is not a property of almond?
    (a) It preserves the vitality of the brain
    (b) It strengthens the muscles
    (c) It destroys diseases originating from nervous and bilious disorders
    (d) It strengthens our digestive system.
  3. Phosphoric element is profusely found in
    (a) almonds, figs, grapes, dates, apples and oranges.
    (b) almonds, figs, papayas, guavas and pineapples
    (c) all the green vegetables
    (d) seasonal fruits.
  4. Brain workers should take fruits rich in phosphoric elements because
    (a) they remove brain weakness
    (b) they nourish the vital tissues of the body
    (c) they keep the mind full of enthusiasm ;
    (d) all the above.
  5. The word unique means the same as
    (a) ordinary
    (b) highly qualified
    (c) unusual
    (d) enlightened.

Answers

  1. b
  2. c
  3. a
  4. d
  5. c

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